n 2015 , COP21 was the conference where the momentous Paris Climate Agreement was signed , dedicating the international community to keep global average temperatures well below a two-degree increase .

That conference highlighted the apocalyptic consequences that the world was destined for if action wasn ’ t taken . While the agreement was a step in the right direction , the reaction from governments and businesses alike were generally tame , and in some cases apathetic .

However , six years later , the magic word that is on the tip of everybody ’ s tongue is ‘ sustainability ’. So , perhaps this time it could be different ?

After 19 months of the Covid-19 pandemic the meetings industry is beginning to look to the future again . As the sector starts to back away from the precipice , a period of rapid growth has enabled many organisations to challenge themselves to ‘ build back better ’. At the centre of this has been event technology , the creation of more diverse workforces and sustainability being put at the forefront of business strategies , with many new ideas and solutions being debated and introduced throughout the sector .

Kathleen Warden , director of conference sales at the Scottish Event Campus ( SEC ), the host venue of COP26 , says Paris COP21 set the destination for us all and now , “ Glasgow must make it a reality ”.

Warden adds : “ It is widely recognised

in the conference and convention industry that the legacy of conferences and the impact that they have on positive change is what makes them so important . For example , conferences in the field of oncology are ultimately aiming to improve the survival rates of people living with cancer . The same goes for COP , its purpose is to ensure a better outcome for our planet and all that inhabit it .”

Burden of responsibility So how can our industry move towards creating better outcomes for our planet ? In the Panoptic Events report ‘ Sustainability at Events ’ an emphasis was placed on how the burden of responsibility for change must fall equally among all stakeholders in the sector . Currently in the events industry 85 % of attendee waste goes to landfill . Whose fault is this ? Event organisers ? Venues ? Attendees ? Instead of pointing fingers , strong leadership is the critical glue to ensuring that effective cross sector responsibility is divided up .

In the lead up to COP26 , an industry wide pledge , the ‘ Net Zero Carbon Events Initiative ’, was launched by some of the sector ’ s leading associations . The International Congress and Convention Association ( ICCA ), the International Association of Convention Centres ( AIPC ), and the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry ( UFI ) orchestrated a pledge , under umbrella organisation Joint Meetings Industry Council ( JMIC ), designed to galvanise the industry towards tackling climate

“ We provide the meeting places and marketplaces to work on solutions to the climate crisis . At the same time , we have a responsibility to minimise our impact on climate change ”

change and reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 . Some of the key points include developing common methodologies to measure supply chain greenhouse gas emissions , collaboration with suppliers and customers to ensure sustainable alignment , and establishing common mechanisms for reporting progress and sharing best practice .

Special role James Rees , president of JMIC , in urging the industry to join the collaborative effort to drive the events sector towards net zero and sign the pledge , has said : “ Events drive industries and societies . They shape conversations , foster innovation and generate business . They are key to human collaboration . This holds true for every subject , including sustainability and climate change . The events industry has a special role to play in tackling climate change . We provide the meeting places and marketplaces to work on solutions to the climate crisis . At the same time , we have a responsibility to minimise our impact on climate change .”

The issue , of course , is becoming a critical one in our neighbouring sectors . Presently , the travel and tourism industry is responsible for 5 % of global greenhouse gas emissions . As a result , the World Travel and Tourism Council ( WTTC ) has also pledged its commitment to help bring together that sector to tackle climate change . The WTTC announced , 23 September , the